Combined shirt or vest and suspenders



2 Sheefs-Shgeet 1.

(Nb Model.)

J. T. BRODNAX. COMBINED SHIRT 0R VEST AND SUSPBNDBRS. No. 428,374.

Patented May 20, 1890.

WIT/V 8858 A TTOH/VEY (No Modei.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

J. T. BRODNAX. COMBINED SHIRT 0R VEST AND SUSPENDERS.

Patented May 20, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN THOMAS BRODNAX, OF NENV ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

COMBINED SHIRT OR VEST AND SUSPE-NDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 428,374, dated May 20, 1890.

Application filed August 10,1889. Serial No. 320,425. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, t may concern:

ABe it known that I, JOHN THOMAS BROD- NAX, residing at New Orleans, parish of Orleans, and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combined Shirt or `Vest Suspenders Attachment, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

In my patent, No. 399,238, dated March 12, 1889, I have shown and described a combined shirt and vest Suspenders, in which the latter are a permanent attachment of the former, (the shirt and vest.)

My present invention is an improvementin the same line.

I will proceed to describe the new construction, arrangement, and combination of parts by reference to the accompanying drawingstwo sheets-in which- Figures l, 2, and 3 are respectively front, rear, and side views of a human ligure with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 4 is a rear View showing a modification. Fig. 5 is a plan view of an elastic device for attachment to the rear ends of the Suspenders. Fig. 5 is a view illustrating the connection of the device shown in Fig. 5 with a cord attached to pants and with the rear extensionpiece of the Suspenders. Fig. G is a plan View of another elastic attachment for the same purpose. Fig. 7 is a -perspective view of a catch for connecting the cord to the suspenders. Fig. 8 is a side and sectional'view of a clasp attached to the cord. Figs. 9 and l0 are views showing my invention applied to a vest. Fig. ll is a view of a modification hereinafter referred to.

I will first describe the invention as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3.

The Suspenders or re-enforce straps A are made of any suitable material, either double or single ply, and stitched to the shirt B throughout their length, save at their extremities. On the front of the shirt B they are attached at points intermediate of the bosom ce and the sleeves Z), so that they do not draw upon the bosom or neckband when in use. On the back of the shirt the suspenders are arranged as shown in Figs. 2 and 3-that is to say, they extend down the shirt-back in nearly parallel position,but are somewhat widely separated.

The lower portions of the Suspenders A are provided with one or two rows of slits or stitched openings c, to receive catches which y form portions of the slides O, through which the cord D runs, as shown. These slides O are in the nature of tubes formed of thin sheet metal in a well-known manner, and they are preferably connected by a hinge or flexible joint with a metal plate (see Fig.' 7) having on its inner side one or two hooks or buttons d, which are adapted to enter the aforesaid slits c in Suspenders A.

In connection with the Suspenders arranged parallel on the back of the shirt, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, I employ two cords D.v Button-holed tabs f are attached to the rear ends of the cords D for connections with buttons, hooks, or other devices secured to the trousers. Slides O are applied to the cords intermediately of the before-described slides O, attached to the suspenders A. The slides C are provided with hooks or tabs which adapt them for attachment to the side portions of the waistband of the trousers.

I apply a clasp F, Fig. 8, to the front ends of the cords D, Fig. l, for use in taking up or lengthening the latter, as may be required for different trousers. The clasp is formed of two U-shaped sheet-metal parts e and provided with teeth f at their lower ends, which are held engaged (normally) by means of a spiral spring g, applied to the pivot. A button loop or eye is attached to the lower ends of the parts e e, as shown. The teeth f bite the cord D and thus hold it securely. The required adjustment of the cord may be made more quickly and easily by aid of this clasp than by placing the slides C in higher or lower slits c in the Suspenders. Besides this, when the slides C have been once adjusted in the position most conducive to ease of movement of the cord D through them the clasp F enables the tension of the cord to be changed at will without disturbing the slides.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the following changes are made: The Suspenders A converge and unite on the back of the shirt- B and an elastic piece G, not attached to the shirt, forms their extension or continuation from that point downward. This piece is provided with a row of slits c, and to still further increase the desirable elasticity of the con`1 IOO nection between the suspenders and trousers I employ the device shown in Fig. 5. The same consists of slides C, loosely attached to the downwardly-bent ends of a spring-baril, whose middle portion is loosely connected by a link with a plate E, having one or two hooks for engaging with the elastic piece G. But one cord D is employed, Fig. 5', and it extends around the waistband as nearly parallel thereto as practicable, to avoid causing in convenience or pain by contact with the pressure against the body of the wearer. The tabs f may be connected with the slides C by means of elastic webbing, as shown in Fig. 6.

In Figs. 9 and lO the Suspenders A are shown stitched to a vest I, and they may be arranged inside or outside of the latter, as preferred.

In Figs. 11 and l2 I have shown the front and rear ends of the re-enforce straps A, con. nected to short suspender-sections m, which have the catches or slides C at their upper ends. The lower ends of the sections m are connected to buckles n, which are formed with the tubes or slides C3, as shown. By this construction it will be seen that the connection between the re-enforce straps A and the trousers may be lengthened or shortened without disconnecting the catches or slides C from the slitted ends of the straps A A.

When I employ the aforesaid adjustingpiece m, I dispense with the long cords D, which pass about the body, and employ short cords D', which pass through the slides C3 and which are provided with the usual button-tabs and connect the same to the trousers in the usual manner.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of the clasps F, formed of two toothed spring-actuated jaws, and button-loops attached to said clasps with the cord D, slides through which the latter passes, Suspenders A A, and an under-garment to which the Suspenders are secured, the clasp being applied to the ends of the cord, as and for the purpose specified.

2. Thecombination,with anundergarment, and Suspenders A, attached thereto and converging on the back, of the elastic extension G, slides C, attached to parts A G, a cord D, and slides C', adapted for attachment of devices intended for connection with trousers, as shown and described.

3. The combination, with the under-garment, the Suspenders attached thereto and converging on the back, the extension G, slides C, cord D, and slides C', of the elastic suspending device consisting of a spring-bar and slides attached to its ends, as shown and described.

lJN0. THOMAS BRODNAX.

Witnesses:

JNo. B. HARRIS, T. J. ANDERSON. 

